Radio control apparatus



Feb. 23, 1943. R. J. DE JO NG r RADIO" ONTROL APPARATUS.

Filed March gs, 193a 2 smug-sheet 1 I Feb.- 23, 1943. R, D JONG RADIO CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1938 Z2", HIHHIM Patented Feb. 23, 1943 napro con'mor. APPARATUS Ralph J. De Jong, Chicago, IlL, assignor, by mesne' assignments, to Le Roy J. Leishman, Los An-- :eles, Calif.

Application March 23, 1938, Serial No. 197,688

16 Claims. (01. 74-10) More particularly, the invention relates to radio tuning or station selector controls for radio receiving sets.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a new and improved control apparatus for radio receiving sets having a plurality of station selecting devices operable individually to tune in predetermined stations.

Radio receiving sets are generally provided with suitable gearing for changing'the wave length to which the apparatus responds. The position of the condenser is generally indicated by means of a pointer. and dial or other visible means.

stations and to obviate the need for watching the dial while selecting the station, radio sets have been provided with various types of controls.

This invention relates to a type wherein a plu- 20 rality of push button devices are arranged to actuate the tuning condenser through suitable connections, the push button devices having adjustable means thereon which may be pre-set' to correspond to the condenser positions of a number .of difierent stations. It is. an object of" the invention to provide such a push button type of radio station selector embodying .a plurality of -adjustable selector ,devices ,of'new and improved construction.

Another object is to provides. new and improved. control of this character constructed so that the setting of each selector device may be adjusted without the use of any tools by manipulation of the push button itself and the usual manual tun- 5 ing control knob. Another object is to provide a control-of this character with improved means for clamping or securing each selector tion.

Further objects. and-advantages will become readilyapparen't from the following detailed descriptiomtaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevationof a preferred form 45 approximately along the v a station tuning means in the form of a variable condenser operable bya control knob through n order to facilitate tuning in the more popular H device in the desired posiat the right 50,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section along line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

For purposes of disclosure, I have illustrated in the drawings and shall hereinafter describe in detail the preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that I do not intend to limit my invention to the particular construction and arrangement shown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the form selected for purposes of disclosure, the invention is illustrated as comprising a support or a frame ill, a tuning condenser, II with movable plates I l secured to a shaft I2 rotatably I mounted on a U-shaped bracket l3 on the frame,

a control member I4 rotatably mounted in bear- I ings l5 and 16 on the frame, gear devices I I and I8 connecting the control member to the condensershaft and a. plurality of push button operated devices or selector elements 20 slidably mounted on the frame III in laterally spaced parallel relation and operable to rotate the control element I4 through any one of a plurality of pre- 5 selected angular positions efiective to adjust the condenser to :positions corresponding to pre selected broadcasting stations. A manual control knob 45 may be provided on the shaft I2 (or connected thereto through suitable reduction gearing in a manner well known in the art) for initially adjusting the selector elements and for tuning in additional stations. V

The frame III is formed of two U-shaped members 2| and 22, .the adjacent ends 2! and 22' of which overlap and are secured together by means of screw devices 23 (Fig. 3). The front and side portions of the member 22 extend upwardly above the upper edge of the member 2| and, as illustrated most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the member 0 22 has a rearwardly bent portion 22 which serves as a shelf for supporting the condenser II. The supporting bracket l3 for .the condenser shaft is suitably secured to this supporting shelf and carries the stationary condenser plates -I l The control element 14 is herein shown in the form 01 an elongated flat member or cam follower bar having a projection 23 at one end journaled in the bearing 15 and an angularly bent portion 24 at the other end, to which a hollow operating shaft 25 is secured by means of a flange 26 and a nut 21.. The hollow shaft 25 is iournale'd in the bearing is and carries the segmental gear I'L'the gear being preferably splined to the shaft and secured thereto by means of a headed screw device 28,. to the inner end of which the nut 21 is secured. In the form'illustrated. the control element I4 is arranged tohe adjusted through an angle of 90, and, in order to rotate the movable element of the condenser through 180", the gear device I8 on the condenser shaft has a radius one-half as long as the radius of the segmental gear The station selector devices 20 are herein shown as comprising push bars 30 slidably mounted in suitable vertical slots 3| in the frame member 22 and slots 32 in the rear frame member 2| and extend through openings H in the control element H. The forward ends 33 of the pushbars 30 are bent transversely as shown in Fig. 2,

and parallel projecting lugs 34 are secured to intermediate portions of the bars, the ends 33 and lugs 34 being suitably screw-threaded to receive screw-threaded devices 35, the forward ends of which carry push buttons 36 by which the push bars may be operated. In order to return the push bars to their forward positions, coil springs 31 are provided. These springs as illustrated in the drawings surround reduced portions 30' of the push bars intermediate the frame member 2| and shoulders 38 on the push bars and are effective to return the push button devices to their forward or extended positions as determined by the engagement of shoulders 38 on the bars with the frame member 22, in which position five push buttons are illustrated in Fig. 2. The slots 3| in the member 22 are enlarged at 3| and 3| to permit the projections 33 and 34 on the push bars to pass therethrough.

The means whereby the push button devices are effective to operate the control element or cam bar M will now be described. Each push bar .30 carries a semi-circular cam member 40 (see Figs. 2 and 4 to 6), which cam member is rotatably secured to an intermediate portion of the push bar by means of a pivot device or rivet 4|. Radially extending edges 42 on the cam members are arranged. to engage corresponding follower portions 43 (Figs. 4 and 6) on the cam bar |4 so as to swing the cam bar into the plane of the edges 42. In the form illustrated herein. the follower portions 43 on the cam bar are in the form of ribs extending along the longitudinal edges thereof. The push bars 30, as mentioned hereinbefore, pass through openings H in the control element, and it will be evident from Fig. 4 that the axis of the cam members 40 coincide with the axis of the cam bar when the push bar is in its rear position, as shown in Fig. 4.

Thecam members 40 may be adjusted angularly with respect to the push bars 30 when they are unclamped therefrom by manipulating the condenser shaft |2 by means of the usual control knob 45 and then pressing the particular push bar rearwardly by means of its push button until the cam surfaces 42 engage the follower portions 43 of the control element. The cam member may then be secured in this adjusted position by gageable in a slot 48 in the push bar, the for- 76 ward end 48' of the slot forming a fulcrum for the clamping member.

It will be readily apparent from Fig. 2 that by rotating the push button 36 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1), the end of the screw device 35 will bear against the clamp member 46 and clamp it against the peripheral surface of the cam member 40 By providing a clamp member such as 46 intermediate the screw device and the cam member, inaccuracies of adjustment are avoided which might occur if the screw deviceengages the cammember directly. Furthermore, leverage is obtained by fulcruming the clamp member to one side of the push bar and having the end of the screw device engage the clamp member at a point spaced outwardly from the other side of the cam member.

In a radio receiving apparatus equipped with a control of the type herein disclosed, the individual selector devices are generally adjusted for the selection of the more popular broadcasting stations. The control may be adjusted initially by first tuning in one of the desired. stations by means of the manual control knob 45. Then, by depressing one of the push rods with the cam 40 thereon free to rotate, the cam, upon engaging the cam bar M, will rotate into the position corresponding to the angular position of the cam bar. The cam may then be clamped in its adjusted position merely by turning the push button itself and without the aid of any tools. With the clamping means herein provided, the cam member is securely held against rotation on the push bar. The resiliency of the clamp member 46 also tends to prevent the push button from loosening accidently. In a similar manner, the remaining push button operated devices may be adjusted so that they will automatically select other desired stations. Once the selector devices have been adjusted, it is merely necessary to push the button corresponding to the station desired and the tuning condenser will be moved automatically to the proper position upon depressing the proper button.

The invention provides a, simple and readily operable and adjustable structure which facilitates selection of any one of a plurality of broad--' casting stations.

I claim as my invention:

1. A control device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a control member pivotally mounted on said support and adjustable to any of a plurality of difierent an-.

gular positions, a plurality of control devices for adjusting said member slidably mounted for reciprocatory movement toward and from said member and each comprising a bar having a bent-over end and a spaced projecting lug, a screw-threaded device passing through apertures in said end and lug and in screw-threadedengagement with one thereof, a semi-circular cam member rotatably mounted on said bar and against the face thereof from which said lug pro-- jects and having an arcuate end adjacent one.

end of said screw device and a chordal end in the plane-of the rotationalaxis of said cam chem-- her, said chordal end arranged to engage said.

control member on opposite sides of its axis and move it in one direction or theother into the plane of the said chordal end, and a clamp member interposed between the end of the screw device and the arcuate periphery of said cam membe! and .pivotally mounted on said bar? 2. A control device of the character described comprising, in combination, a support, a controlmember pivotally mou'nted-on said siipportfand adjustable to any of a plurality of-"different angularpositions, a plurality of control devices for adjusting said member 'slidablymounted for reciprocatory -movement toward and from said member and comprising a bar having a project'- through an aperture in said ing and in screwthreadedengagement therewith, a semi-circular cammember rotatably mounted intermediate the ends of said 'bar and against the face thereof from adjacent one end of said screwdevice and a chordal end in line with the center of rotation of said cam member, said chordal end arranged to ing lug thereon, a screw-threaded device passing which said lug projects and having an arcuateend engage said control member on opposite'sides of its axis and move it in one direc'tion'or the other into the plane of the chordal' end, and non-rotatableclainp means interposed between the end g0 'engage said positionable means on one side-of of the screw device and the .arcuate end of said cam member and operable by the screw-threaded device to clamp the cam member in its adjusted position. I

3. A control device of the character described comprising, in combination, a supportingframe, a plurality of laterally spaced and parallel push bars slidably mounted on said frame, cam devices adjustabiy mounted on said push bars, acommon follower member for said cam devices adapted to be connected to'a tuning condenser,

mon positionable follower member for said positioning elementsyand means includingv a rotatable. male screw carried by each of said selector devices and extending substantialy longitudinally thereof for retaining said elements in their ad justed positions; each of said screwsihaving means on the external end thereof for operating both the screw and the device carrying said screw; said'latter means attached to saidscrew 'so'that both rotate substantially as a unit.

-7-. A control device of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame;

positionable means mounted to rotate aboutan axis; and a plurality'of rectilinearly movable selector devices slidably mounted on said frame and each comprising a bar, apositioning member adjusta'bly .mounted on said bar and adapted upon movement of the bar in one direction to its axis and rotate it to a position at which said positionable means engages said positioning member on the other side of said axis, and means inmeans for securing said cam devices in their adjusted positions comprising push buttons having screw-threaded shanks engaging in correspondingly screw-threaded portions of said pushz-bars,

and clamp members having one end thereof fulcrumed on said push bars, intermediate portions engaging the cam devices and free ends engaged by said threaded shanks, and spring means for returning the push bars to'inoperative position.

of a plurality of different angular positions,

means connecting said member to actuate said condenser, a pluralityof control devices for adcluding a screw device extending longitudinally of said bar for clamping thepositioning member in its adjusted position, and means. secured to said screw device forroperating both the screw device and the bar.

:8. In a radio tuning mechanism,'a' combination including: a supportnig structure; a positionable control element for said mechanism movably mounted on said structure; a plurality of selector devices for positioning. said control ele-v ment each sildably mounted for rectilinear movement in a plurality of guides provided by said structure; each of said devices comprising adiustable means for predetermining by the adjustes/the external and of one of said screw-threaded jnsting said member movably mountedfor movemounted on said bar and operable, when the bar is moved in one direction, to engage said control member and move-it in one direction or the'other 'into. a preselected; position determined by the position of the cam, member, and means including a screw device carried on the bar for clamping the cam member in its adjusted position, and

means secured to said screw device for operating I both the screw device and the bar.

5. A control device of the character described comprising, in combination, a supporting frame,

a plurality of selector devices movably mounted on said frame, cam members adjustably mounted members and rotatable therewith for operating both the member and the device comprising said member. '91 In a radio tuning mechanism, a combination including a supporting structure; a positionable control element for said mechanism movably carried by said structure; a plurality of selector members each slidably mounted for rectilinear movement in a plurality of guides provided by said structure; a plurality ofadjustable means each carried by one of said members for engaging said control element upon movement of said member in one direction and for positioning said element according to the adjustment of said means; said means comprising a-rotatable male screw extending substantially longitudinally of on said selector devices, a common follower mem supporting frame; a plurality of selector devices slidably mounted on said frame for reciprocatory '75 movement, each of said devices comprising! an the associated member and in screw-threaded engagement therewith for maintaining said ad- Justment; and means free from engagement with said guide"- attached'to the external end of said screw androtatable therewith foroperating both the screw and the member carrying said screw.

: 10. The combination with the positionable control of a radio tuning mechanism, of a plurality of guiding supports and a rectilinearly movable device for positioning said control, said device comprising: a member slidably mounted on said supports, adjustable means for predetermining' the position that said control willoccupy upon completion of ,anoperating stroke of said device, said means comprising a rotatable male screw extending substantially longitudinally of said member and in screw-threaded engagement therewith for maintaining said means in its adjusted position, and means attached to the external end of said screw and rotatable therewith for operating both the screw and the device.

11. In a radio tuning mechanism, a combination including: a rotatable control element and positioning means for rotating said element, said means comprising: a rectilinearly movable device; an angularly adjustable member carried by said device for determiningthe position to which said element will be rotated upon operation of said positioning means; and means ior securing said adjustable member in its adjusted position comprising a push button having a screw-threaded shank extending substantially longitudinally of said positioning means and engaging incorresponding screw-threaded portions of said device, and clamping means intermediate the end of the shank and the member.

12. The combination'with the rotatable control element of'a radio tuning mechanism, of a rectilinearly movable device for rotating said control element to'a pre-selected angular position, said device comprising: an angularly adjustable member fordetermining the angular position to which said element will be rotated upon movement of said device in one direction, and means including a screw extending substantially longitudinally thereof for clamping the adjustable member in its adjusted position, and means secured to said screw for operating both the screw and the device.

- said rocker member;

operating device for positioning said rocker, said 14. In a radio apparatus, a combination in-- cluding: a resonance-varying instrument; means for operating said instrument comprising a positionable rocker member pivoted on said support and having an opening therein; a pair of guides on said support disposed 'on opposite sides of a rectilinearly movable device passing through said opening and slidably mounted on said guides; and a compressiom spring surrounding said device and expanding between one-of said guides and an enlarged portion of said device, said spring extending through said opening to urge said device to a rest position.

15. In a radio'tuning mechanism, a combination including: a supporting structure; a positionable control element for said mechanism movably mounted. on said structure; a rectilinearly movable selector-device for positioning the device and the screw-threaded portions of 13. In a radio apparatus, a combination inside of its rotational axis upon movement of said device in one direction and for determining by its adjustment the angular position at which said positionable means will stop upon the engagement I of said cam by said positionable means on the opposite side of said axis; said positionable.

means and said cam so constructed that a line connecting their points of engagement on opposite sides of saidaxis will pass through said axis.

the rod.

16. -In a radio tuning mechanism, a combination including: a supporting structure; a posielement will occupy upon completion of the oper ating stroke of said device in one direction, anda rod having externally screw-threaded portions engaging in corresponding screw-threaded portions of said device for maintaining said adjustment; and a plurality of knobs free from engagement with said guides and. each keyed to the external end of one of said rods whereby said rod may be rotated by the fingers of the operator. RALPH J. DE JONG. 

